Duke  University  Libraries 

Memorial,  Dec. 
Conf  Pam  #302 


AlEMOKIAX.. 


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Abmv  of  Tennessee,  Dec.  17,  1863. 
2b  the  Congress  of  the  Confederah  States: 

Jn  the  exLstThg  "conctition  of  affairs,  it  is  hoped  your  honorable 
bcdies. will  ^pardpn  the  'Variance  from   the  custom  of  addressing  you 

from  the  army. jt  'is  iIajjuj  4n  no   spirit  of  dictation,  but  under  the 

.  conscientious  cor-viction  that  the  necessities  of  the  country  demand 
the  voices  nnd  labors  of  all,  and  that  delay,  even  for  thirty  days,  in 
enacting  proper  measures,  may  make  pres^-nt  disorders  incurable,  and 
the  dangers  of  the  moment  omnipotent  for  our  destruction. 

In  our  opinion,  it  is  essential  to  retain,  for  the  terra  of  during  the 
war,  "without  reorganization,  the  troops  now  in  service:  to  place  in 
service,  immediately,  for  the  same  term,  all  other  white  males  between 
eighteen  and  fifty  years  of  age,  a'  le  to  perform  any  military  duty;  to 
provide  f'>r  placing  in  service,  at  the  discret  on  of  the  President,  for 
the  Fame  Icini,  all  vhite  males  between  fifteen  and  eighteen,  and 
between  fifty  and  sixty  years  of  age  ;  to  prohibit  substitutions;  to 
prohibit  exemptions,  except  fur  the  necessary  civil  offices  and  employ- 
ments of  the  Confederate  JSiates  and  of  the  several  States;  to  prohibit 
detaih,  except  for  limited  times,  and  for  carrying  on  works  essential 
totheaimy;  to  jtiohibit  di^cllarges,  except  in  cases  of  permanent 
disability  from  n/l  f'uty  ;  to  prohibit  leaves  and  furloughs,  except 
under  uniform  rules,  of  universal  app'ieation.  based,  as  far  as  practi- 
cable, on  length  of  service  and  meritorious  conduct;  to  prohibit,  to 
the  greatest  p()S^ible  extent,  tlie  detail  of  able-bodied  officers  and  men 
to  prst,  hospital,  or  other  interior  duty;  anl  to  place  in  service  as 
cooks,  laborers,  teamsteis,  and  hospital  attendants,  wirh  the  army  and 
elsewhere,  able-bodied  negroes  and  mulattoes,  bond  and  free. 

These  measures,  we  think,  if  promptly  enacted  as  laws,  so  as  to 
give  time  for  organizing  and 'di>ciplining  the  new  material,  would 
make  our  armies  invincible  at  the  opening  of  the  campaign  of  next 
year,  and  enable  us  to  >\in  back  our  lost  territory,  and  conquer  & 
peace  before  that  campaign  shall  be  ended. 

We  further  suggest  that,  in  our  opinion,  the  dissatisfactions,  appre- 
hended or  existirg,  from  i-hort  rations,  depreciated  currency,  and  the 
retention  of  old  soldiers  in  heiviee,  might  be  obviated  by  allowing 
bounties,  with  discriminations  in  favor  of  the  retained  troops,  an 
increase  of  pay,  the  commuiation  to  enlisted  men  of  rations  not  issued, 
and  rations,  or  the  value  thereof,  to  officers. 
Wo  have  the  honor  to  l)c, 

Very  respcetruliy,  your  obedient  servants, 
VV.  J.  IIy\RnP:H.  Lieut.  General, 

B.  F   (;11KATI1.\M.  JAy.  Grncral,  C  S.  A., 

C.  L.  STKVKNSOX.  Maj.  Gnu  ml, 
JOHN  C.  HUECKINRlbGK,  J/.(y-.  General, 
JOHN  (J.  DROWN,  /?Wy.  General, 
KD.MI)  W.  PKTT US.  lira/.  General, 

A.  W.  RF.yN(jr;l)S.  Bru}'.  General, 
JOHN  K.  JA(;KS0X,  /;)•/./    General. 


I  sign  t!)is  with  ilio  rehcrvalittri  iliiiL  1  ;ipr'rov.'  llu'  Pi'c.-ilont'-^  pro- 
posed svKtem  ofpei'niJinent  coiisoliiialion. 

P.  R.  Cl>KiU:iLNE.  J/r//.  Gcfwral. 

T.  C.HIXDMAN.  M<i}.  General, 

JOS.  11.  LKWLS,  lirif/.  General, 

D.  C.  GO  VAN,  Colonel  2d  N.  C ,  Jierjunvat, 

CornmoHdinQ  Jjiddell't;  Brigadt:. 

1  approve  the  above,  except  tiiaL  portion  which  has  roforenco  to  ex- 
emptions, and  the  proposition  to  place  in  service  th(*se  under  eii^liteen 
and  over  tifty  years  oC  age.  1  believe  the  old  men  and  boys  \vo;ild  bo 
of  more  service  to  the  country  ut  home,  and  that  minister.'^  of  tho 
gospel,  a  necessai-y  number  oi'  ]>hysicians  and  tcachor^  should  bo 
exempt. 

M.  P.  LOWKKY,  Bri<j.  General, 

B.  J.  HILL,  Colonel  conuVcj  obth  and  4Wi 

Tenn.  Ree/fs  and  Folk's  hriqadey 
H.  B.  GRANBUKY,  Colonel  comd'g  Texas 

Bruiade,.  Cleburne's  Division, 
PATTON  ANDKRSON,  ^nV;.  General, 
A.  M.  MANKIAULT,  Bri(f.   General, 
J.  G.  COLT  ART,  Colonel  }>Oth  Ala.  Regt., 

Comwanding  Dca's  Briaade, 
A.  J.  VAUGHN,  Jr.,  Brig  General, 
WM.  A.  QUARLES,  Brig.  General. 

Approved,  but  would  favor  consolidation  ef  regiments,  and  no  in- 
crease of  pay. 

J.  H.  SHARP,  Col.  conuVq  Anderson  s  Brigade. 
(Approved,)  T.  BURTON  SMITH,  Colonel  commanding 

Bates'  Brigade,  BreeJcinridge's  Division, 
J.  J.  FINLEY,  Brig.'  General, 
WM.  B.  BATE,  Brig.  General, 
ALEX.  P.  STEWART,  Maj.  General, 
H.  1).  CLAYTON,  Brig.  General, 
O.  F.  STRAHL,  Brig.  General, 
R.  L.  GIBSON,  Col.'  comd'g  Adams'  Brigade. 

The  term  "  without  reorganization"  relates  to  re-election  of  com- 
pany and  regimental  officers  only,  and  not  to  consolidation  of  skeleton 
commands. 

T.  C.  HINDMAN,  Maj.  General 


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